Susan Renaker - Mary Hamilton Lyrics

Word is to the kitchen gone
Word is to the hall
And word is up to madam the queen
And that's the worst of all
That Mary Hamilton's borne a babe
To the highest Stuart of all

Oh rise, arise Mary Hamilton
Arise and tell to me
What thou hast done with thy wee babe
I saw them lay by thee

I put him in a tiny boat
And I cast him out to sea
That he might sink or he might swim
But he'd never return to me

Oh rise arise Mary Hamilton
Arise and go with me
There is a wedding in Glasgow town
This night we'll go and see

And as she rode into Glasgow town
The city for to see
The bailiff's wife and the provost's wife
Cried out alas for thee

Oh you need not weep for me she cried
Though death it be so near
If I had not slain my own wee babe
This death I would not fear

Then by them come the king himself
Looked up with a pitiful eye
Come down, come down Mary Hamilton
Tonight you'll dine with me

Oh hold your tongue, my sovereign liege
And let your folly be
If thou hads't a mind to save my life
You'd never have shamed me here

Last night there were four Marys
Tonight there'll be but three
There was Mary Seton and Mary Beaton
And Mary Carmichael and me